CULTURAL AWARENESS – Kids in the Hispanic Culture Club at Connors Primary School celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month this month. All of the schools in the district are celebrating in different ways through Oct. 15. The high school’s Hispanic Culture Club and the HHS Emergency Response Team will hold a community health fair and blood drive at Hoboken High School on Saturday, Oct. 20 featuring the HHS Emergency Response Team, Jersey City Medical Center, Hoboken University Medical Center, Community Blood Bank Services, and more. For further Hispanic Heritage Month event information at all Hoboken schools, please visit http://www.hoboken.k12.nj.us

Hoboken City Hall on Friday circulated a press release issued by United Water of Hackensack stating that United Water is continuing to address taste and odor and discolored water concerns for customers in Jersey City, Hoboken, Secaucus and Weehawken.

The water continues to meet all the standards for safe drinking water, they said. It can still be used for drinking, cooking and bathing.

They said the taste and odor have to do with a lowered reservoir level that has brought on conditions that allowed for algae growth. Certain taste and odor episodes can also be caused by turnovers in the reservoir. This occurs when the surface water cools and sinks to the bottom, causing a disturbance to the lower water layers.

Baby pronounced dead after home birth in Hoboken

A newborn was pronounced dead on Tuesday after a Hoboken couple delivered the baby by a home birth in a Garden Street home, prosecutors confirmed on Thursday. The biological father, a mid-wife, and a doula (a non-medical labor coach) were all present at the birth, according to Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Michael D’Andrea.

D’Andrea commented Thursday that police and medical personnel were contacted after the death but there is no confirmation of whether the baby was born alive or delivered stillborn. The mother was subsequently hospitalized, and a further investigation, including a post mortem exam, is being conducted.

Hoboken High School 50th anniversary events coming up

In celebration of Hoboken High School’s 50th Anniversary, various events will be held beginning with a Red Wing Alumni Sports Luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 12 to 2 p.m. at La Reggia Restaurant, 40 Wood Ave., Secaucus. Those interested in attending can contact Joe Paulillo at joepop52@comcast.net.

There will be a free assembly the following day, Friday Sept. 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Hoboken High School for alumni, faculty, students and administration. Also on Friday, a cocktail reception will be held to benefit the 50th Anniversary Alumni Scholarship Fund from 6 to 10 p.m. at Kolo Club at Pilsener Haus Beer Garden, 1422 Grand St., Hoboken. For tickets, contact Michel Florio-Ising or Kathleen Kelly at (201) 356-3703.

On Saturday Sept. 29 the varsity football game between Hudson Catholic and Hoboken High School will take place at JFK Memorial Stadium. A block party will round out the anniversary events between Eighth and Ninth Street on Grand Street from 3 to 9 p.m. Anyone interested in being a vendor at the fair can contact Christopher Munoz at Christopher.Munoz@hoboken.k12.nj.us or by calling (201) 978-2164.

It’s fun to stay at the YMCA – and now more people can

Seventy low-income housing units at the Hoboken YMCA will be made available in a random lottery drawn on Oct 17, according to Executive Director Susan Walsh.

The building is being renovated and will have 91 open units, 21 of which are occupied by grandfathered-in tenants living in a different part of the building. The 70 units available are for men who earn between $15,480 and $25,800 annually. Two tiers of rent are available: Those who make under $15,480 will pay $365 per month and those who make more will pay $578 per month.

As of Wednesday, the YMCA had received 40 applications but expect many more. Construction for the units started in November 2011 and is estimated to cost about $16 million.

If you are interested in applying to rent one of the affordable units, you must complete a preliminary application and return the application to the Hoboken YMCA at 1301 Washington St., Hoboken. Preliminary applications are available at the Hoboken YMCA, and at www.HobokenYMCA.org. Applications can also be requested via mail by calling the YMCA at (201) 963-4100.

Breast Cancer Brunch

A brunch hosted by the Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation for Cancer Prevention will be held on Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. at the W Hotel, 225 River St., Hoboken. The brunch is in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and will feature keynote speaker Lillie Shockney, a two-time breast cancer survivor and nationally recognized speaker and author. Mayor Dawn Zimmer is serving as the event’s honorary chairwoman.

Tickets for the brunch are $50 each and are available by calling (201) 437-9100 or visit mflfoundation.com.

Holiday services for Yom Kippur

Chabad Jewish Center of Hoboken offers free High Holiday Services for Yom Kippur (Sept. 25 to 26). All services will take place at the Boys and Girls Club, 123 Jefferson St., Hoboken (first floor). There are NO MEMBERSHIP FEES and Chabad’s services are open to all Jews.